The purpose of this workshop is to provide digital resources for the Common Core standard:
With guidance and support from adults, explore a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing, including in collaboration with peers.
E-Portfolio
Choose 2-4 tools that are new to you and use them for writing (e.g., comic creation, graphic design of a poem you wrote, etc.).
Scaffolds
Look here (Getting Started) for strategies that will help you to try out new technology and programs.
Format of Workshop
This workshop attempts to cover the resources to meet this standard as comprehensively as possible. Use the table of contents to get to the specific needs you have. As always, it is a good idea to have a colleague or small group read the same information so that you can discuss the ideas and how they might work in your teaching situation.
Resources for Writing
If digital resources are new to you, you will be amazed at the possibilities. Even if you already know about such things, they remain amazing, particularly when compared with manual typewriters and white-out! Resources under "Word Processing" are for free word processors. "Specialty Writing Resources" are websites that support both motivation and the construction of various kinds of texts.
Word Processing
Writers can download programs for word processing and they can also use web apps. If you are assigning students to write using the computer at home, have them use a web app if they do not have a word processing program on the home computer. That way you lose half the excuses (my mom wouldn't let me download it, it crashed my computer, it didn't work, I didn't know how to install it, etc.) for failing to finish homework.
Programs
While some computers come with Microsoft Word already installed, the less expensive computers do not, since that is a proprietary program which means it costs money. Here are a couple of Open Source resources.
Libre Office
http://www.libreoffice.org/
This is a full-featured productivity suite which includes a word processor, a presentation creator, and a spreadsheet. You may have used Open Office in the past. Currently Open Office is still available, but the company that now owns it (Oracle) may not support it in the future. Libre Office picks up where Open Office left off.
Abi-Word
http://www.abisource.com/
This is a word processor that takes up less space in terms of RAM and hard drive than Libre Office. It is somewhat limited but has all the basic features.
Web Apps
Google Docs
https://docs.google.com
This is a free online productivity suite (includes word processing, presentation software, spreadsheet, etc.). In order to use it, you need a free Google account. You can create and store documents online (making them available to you no matter what internet-connected computer you use) and you can upload documents from your hard drive. It might be a good idea (this is an untested idea insofar as the Oetc people have not yet tried it out) to have a single account that all students use. If you try this, please amend this page to include how it worked for you. Using a single account for everyone allows you to see documents in progress and intervene if necessary.
Zoho Writer
https://writer.zoho.com/home
Another online word processor. This one is by Microsoft so it is very compatible with Word. It does not check spelling while writing.
Other
You can always do a search for "online word processor" to get more possibilities.
Specialty Writing Resources
These resources can be highly motivating for both accomplished and reluctant writers.
Create Your Own Book http://www.storyjumper.com/
This website allows you to write a story (and they encourage 16+ pages to the story). The story can be saved and it can also (for a fee) be printed in hardback format.
Writing Aids
The internet makes looking up a word to find meanings or synonyms very easy. Because of this, it is relatively easy to support vocabulary development as students write. They can be encouraged to use interesting words in their work. The following resources are helpful.
Definr http://definr.com/
Advertises itself as an incredibly fast dictionary.
Visuwords http://www.visuwords.com/
This dictionary shows relationships between words, which can help with understanding meaning. It does so in a visual way, very different from dictionary books.
One Look Reverse Dictionary http://www.onelook.com/reverse-dictionary.shtml
Ever searched for a word to express an idea? This dictionary lets you start with your idea and then find words related to it. More sophisticated than a simple thesaurus.
Rhyming Dictionary http://www.rhymer.com/
Many students love to write rhyming poetry. This dictionary helps them to get beyond the overused rhymes (moon June spoon, etc.).
Page layout software allows a student to use visual elements to enhance text. This is the type of software that magazines use to make sure their pages are consistent across issues. It allows for the creation of sidebars and the embedding of images and the like. A lot of word processors can do this sort of thing but specialized software allows for more possibilities and more control. Learning to do page layout applies not only to print publications but also to website design.
Professional-quality Page Layout Program
Scribus http://www.scribus.net/canvas/Scribus
This is an Open Source program of very high quality and sophistication. It could be used for yearbooks, school newspapers, school literary journals, school scientific research journals, and the like. Students who are able to handle a program such as this one are well set up for the possibility of employment in this area.
Much of classroom collaboration involves students actually working together in the classroom, supported by a desktop or laptop computer for the product of their collaboration and the above resources will work for that.
There are instances where collaboration needs to take place between people who are physically separated, such as two teachers working on the same document or perhaps children in the classroom working with a child who is home sick.
Google docs works really well in this situation, since it will track changes and multiple people can work on the same document at the same time. Google docs includes a spreadsheet, a word processor, a presentation creator, and a drawing program. Additionally it is possible to upload documents such as image files or docx files.
Here are a couple of other alternatives that might be useful to you:
https://cacoo.com/
You can get a free account that is limited but probably enough to be useful.
Technical Stuff
Formats of documents
There are several different word processing document formats. It is important to know these because not every word processor or document reader will open every type of document. Also when putting a document on the web, it's important to choose a format to which most people will have access. Otherwise, people will not be able to read the writing. Finally, there are ways of taking the same piece of writing and converting it to different formats of documents.
DOC and DOCX
The predominant word processor in the computer world is Microsoft Word. The older Word program had the format marker, ".doc" which means that it would open files that had that suffix. Because this format is so often used, most non-Microsoft word processors offer the possibility of saving a document in Word format. The newer Microsoft Word files are in the format .docx. This can present a challenge to people who use older word processors, but even this problem can be overcome.
PDF
Another popular document format is .pdf which stands for "portable document format." There are distinct advantages to pdf files (as well as some disadvantages).
Advantages of pdf files
There are "pdf readers" (programs that allow you to open a pdf file) for every major operating system (Windows, Mac, and many different "flavors" of Linux). This means that a pdf file can be used by just about anyone without having to convert it into something else.
Pdf files keep the original formatting. When you open someone else's .doc or .docx file, their formatting may get lost--especially their pagination. With pdf files, whatever information you put on a particular page stays on that page.
Pdf files easily handle images as well as words.
Pdf format seems to be predominant in academic settings for research papers whether published or unpublished.
Disadvantages of pdf files
Primarily, the disadvantage of pdf files is that they are difficult or impossible for people with visual impairments. For example, you may find older research articles in pdf format. These are probably composed of essentially photocopies of each page (images) instead of someone typing the article into a word processor and then converting it to pdf. As a result, adaptive software for reading things out loud will not be able to read these. If you are uploading a pdf to a web page, you can have an alternate word processor document or you can copy all the material and just paste it into the website in order to make it more fully accessible.
PDF Readers
Adobe: http://get.adobe.com/reader/ This is the predominant reader for this type of file. The basic reader is free.
Foxit http://www.foxitsoftware.com/products/reader/ This reader is a lot faster than the Adobe reader and it is less likely to bog your computer down. The free version has a lot of tools you can use, such as the ability to bookmark where you are in your reading.
PDF Creators
In order to create pdf files with Adobe, you have to buy the advanced software. Fortunately, there are free ways to do this. One way is to use an online pdf maker such as: http://www.freepdfconvert.com/
Another way is to use a word processor that will allow you to export a document into pdf format. Here is one: http://www.libreoffice.org/
Libre Office is the successor to Open Office which may not continue to be supported by Oracle.
RTF and TXT
These are both minimalist formats that pick up the text but not much in the way of formating. RTF (Rich Text Format) is more likely to pick up some formating (such as fonts) than TXT (text format). These are good formats for important texts where formating is not an issue. If you download an open source program you are likely to see a file that says "Read Me." It's usually in the txt format so that as many people as possible can read the instructions.
Converting Documents
From doc to pdf
When working with a word processor, you will find two ways to save documents. One is "Save" which saves a document in whatever format the word processor uses. The other way is "Save As." When you look at the formats into which you can save a document, you may find that you can put it into a more popular format such as .doc. It's a good idea to save the document in the original format, then hit Save As, rename the document, and save it into the other format. That way you always have the original document in case something gets lost in the "translation."
Another way to convert a document is to try "Export" which is under the "File" menu. Libre Office allows you to export a document (or a slide show, etc.) into pdf format.
If you use Google Docs (https://docs.google.com) which is a free online productivity suite, you can create your document online and then choose to download it into a number of different types of files, including pdf.
From doc to rtf or txt
If formating doesn't matter, you can save a file as "Rich Text Format" (.rtf) or Text (.txt) which can be read not only by any word processor but also by the notepad program that is included with the computer. This means that if you do not have a word processor on a computer, you can still access documents in rtf and txt. Rich Text Format will retain some formatting while Text format will retain words only.
From unknown to txt
If you are presented with a word processing file in an unknown format (for example, a document that was created in Lotus ten years ago), you can frequently open it with your notepad program. You will see a lot of gobbledygook (LOTS of it), but keep scrolling down and you may see the actual text. You can copy the text into a word processor and then get rid of any embedded gobbledygook using "Find and Replace" (under the "Edit" menu). In order to do this, open the notepad and then go to the "File" menu and choose "Open" and then select your file.
Another way to do this if the notepad doesn't work is to do a search on your document format (the dot and whatever letters are after it in the name of the file) as well as words such as "open" "convert", etc. You may find some resources this way. Bear in mind that many people probably have a similar problem, so there is a solution out there somewhere. Be persistent.
Purpose
Table of Contents
With guidance and support from adults, explore a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing, including in collaboration with peers.
E-Portfolio
Choose 2-4 tools that are new to you and use them for writing (e.g., comic creation, graphic design of a poem you wrote, etc.).Scaffolds
Look here (Getting Started) for strategies that will help you to try out new technology and programs.Format of Workshop
This workshop attempts to cover the resources to meet this standard as comprehensively as possible. Use the table of contents to get to the specific needs you have. As always, it is a good idea to have a colleague or small group read the same information so that you can discuss the ideas and how they might work in your teaching situation.Resources for Writing
If digital resources are new to you, you will be amazed at the possibilities. Even if you already know about such things, they remain amazing, particularly when compared with manual typewriters and white-out! Resources under "Word Processing" are for free word processors. "Specialty Writing Resources" are websites that support both motivation and the construction of various kinds of texts.Word Processing
Writers can download programs for word processing and they can also use web apps. If you are assigning students to write using the computer at home, have them use a web app if they do not have a word processing program on the home computer. That way you lose half the excuses (my mom wouldn't let me download it, it crashed my computer, it didn't work, I didn't know how to install it, etc.) for failing to finish homework.Programs
While some computers come with Microsoft Word already installed, the less expensive computers do not, since that is a proprietary program which means it costs money. Here are a couple of Open Source resources.Libre Office
http://www.libreoffice.org/This is a full-featured productivity suite which includes a word processor, a presentation creator, and a spreadsheet. You may have used Open Office in the past. Currently Open Office is still available, but the company that now owns it (Oracle) may not support it in the future. Libre Office picks up where Open Office left off.
Abi-Word
http://www.abisource.com/This is a word processor that takes up less space in terms of RAM and hard drive than Libre Office. It is somewhat limited but has all the basic features.
Web Apps
Google Docs
https://docs.google.comThis is a free online productivity suite (includes word processing, presentation software, spreadsheet, etc.). In order to use it, you need a free Google account. You can create and store documents online (making them available to you no matter what internet-connected computer you use) and you can upload documents from your hard drive. It might be a good idea (this is an untested idea insofar as the Oetc people have not yet tried it out) to have a single account that all students use. If you try this, please amend this page to include how it worked for you. Using a single account for everyone allows you to see documents in progress and intervene if necessary.
Zoho Writer
https://writer.zoho.com/homeAnother online word processor. This one is by Microsoft so it is very compatible with Word. It does not check spelling while writing.
Other
You can always do a search for "online word processor" to get more possibilities.Specialty Writing Resources
These resources can be highly motivating for both accomplished and reluctant writers.Create Your Own Comic Book
http://superherosquad.marvel.com/create_your_own_comic
Create Your Own Book
http://www.storyjumper.com/
This website allows you to write a story (and they encourage 16+ pages to the story). The story can be saved and it can also (for a fee) be printed in hardback format.
Writing Aids
The internet makes looking up a word to find meanings or synonyms very easy. Because of this, it is relatively easy to support vocabulary development as students write. They can be encouraged to use interesting words in their work. The following resources are helpful.The Free Dictionary
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/
This is way more than a free dictionary; it is a website devoted to words.
Definr
http://definr.com/
Advertises itself as an incredibly fast dictionary.
Visuwords
http://www.visuwords.com/
This dictionary shows relationships between words, which can help with understanding meaning. It does so in a visual way, very different from dictionary books.
Etymology Online
http://www.etymonline.com/
Focuses on the history of words.
One Look Reverse Dictionary
http://www.onelook.com/reverse-dictionary.shtml
Ever searched for a word to express an idea? This dictionary lets you start with your idea and then find words related to it. More sophisticated than a simple thesaurus.
Rhyming Dictionary
http://www.rhymer.com/
Many students love to write rhyming poetry. This dictionary helps them to get beyond the overused rhymes (moon June spoon, etc.).
The Grandiloquent Dictionary
http://www.islandnet.com/~egbird/dict/dict.htm
Focuses on 2700 rare words in English.
Page Layout
Page layout software allows a student to use visual elements to enhance text. This is the type of software that magazines use to make sure their pages are consistent across issues. It allows for the creation of sidebars and the embedding of images and the like. A lot of word processors can do this sort of thing but specialized software allows for more possibilities and more control. Learning to do page layout applies not only to print publications but also to website design.Professional-quality Page Layout Program
Scribushttp://www.scribus.net/canvas/Scribus
This is an Open Source program of very high quality and sophistication. It could be used for yearbooks, school newspapers, school literary journals, school scientific research journals, and the like. Students who are able to handle a program such as this one are well set up for the possibility of employment in this area.
Tutorials on Scribus
Official documentation on Scribus
http://docs.scribus.net/
Video tutorials
http://showmedo.com/videotutorials/series?name=nfurdunov
Information on Desktop Publishing in General
Basics of Graphic Design
http://www.online.tusc.k12.al.us/tutorials/grdesign/grdesign.htm
Technical Layout & Design
http://www.technical-expressions.com/layout/index.html
Principles of Graphic Design
http://apecalledman.com/pogdonline/online_edu1.html
Teach Yourself Graphic Design
http://psd.tutsplus.com/articles/inspiration/teach-yourself-graphic-design-a-self-study-course-outline/
Publication opportunities on the web wiki, web page,
Online Graphic Program
http://www.fatpaint.com/en/Editor?t=1314112965848
Collaboration with Peers
Much of classroom collaboration involves students actually working together in the classroom, supported by a desktop or laptop computer for the product of their collaboration and the above resources will work for that.There are instances where collaboration needs to take place between people who are physically separated, such as two teachers working on the same document or perhaps children in the classroom working with a child who is home sick.
Google docs works really well in this situation, since it will track changes and multiple people can work on the same document at the same time. Google docs includes a spreadsheet, a word processor, a presentation creator, and a drawing program. Additionally it is possible to upload documents such as image files or docx files.
Here are a couple of other alternatives that might be useful to you:
https://cacoo.com/
You can get a free account that is limited but probably enough to be useful.
Technical Stuff
Formats of documents
There are several different word processing document formats. It is important to know these because not every word processor or document reader will open every type of document. Also when putting a document on the web, it's important to choose a format to which most people will have access. Otherwise, people will not be able to read the writing. Finally, there are ways of taking the same piece of writing and converting it to different formats of documents.DOC and DOCX
The predominant word processor in the computer world is Microsoft Word. The older Word program had the format marker, ".doc" which means that it would open files that had that suffix. Because this format is so often used, most non-Microsoft word processors offer the possibility of saving a document in Word format. The newer Microsoft Word files are in the format .docx. This can present a challenge to people who use older word processors, but even this problem can be overcome.PDF
Another popular document format is .pdf which stands for "portable document format." There are distinct advantages to pdf files (as well as some disadvantages).Advantages of pdf files
Disadvantages of pdf files
Primarily, the disadvantage of pdf files is that they are difficult or impossible for people with visual impairments. For example, you may find older research articles in pdf format. These are probably composed of essentially photocopies of each page (images) instead of someone typing the article into a word processor and then converting it to pdf. As a result, adaptive software for reading things out loud will not be able to read these. If you are uploading a pdf to a web page, you can have an alternate word processor document or you can copy all the material and just paste it into the website in order to make it more fully accessible.PDF Readers
Adobe:
http://get.adobe.com/reader/ This is the predominant reader for this type of file. The basic reader is free.
Foxit
http://www.foxitsoftware.com/products/reader/ This reader is a lot faster than the Adobe reader and it is less likely to bog your computer down. The free version has a lot of tools you can use, such as the ability to bookmark where you are in your reading.
PDF Creators
In order to create pdf files with Adobe, you have to buy the advanced software. Fortunately, there are free ways to do this. One way is to use an online pdf maker such as:http://www.freepdfconvert.com/
Another way is to use a word processor that will allow you to export a document into pdf format. Here is one:
http://www.libreoffice.org/
Libre Office is the successor to Open Office which may not continue to be supported by Oracle.
RTF and TXT
These are both minimalist formats that pick up the text but not much in the way of formating. RTF (Rich Text Format) is more likely to pick up some formating (such as fonts) than TXT (text format). These are good formats for important texts where formating is not an issue. If you download an open source program you are likely to see a file that says "Read Me." It's usually in the txt format so that as many people as possible can read the instructions.Converting Documents
From doc to pdf
When working with a word processor, you will find two ways to save documents. One is "Save" which saves a document in whatever format the word processor uses. The other way is "Save As." When you look at the formats into which you can save a document, you may find that you can put it into a more popular format such as .doc. It's a good idea to save the document in the original format, then hit Save As, rename the document, and save it into the other format. That way you always have the original document in case something gets lost in the "translation."Another way to convert a document is to try "Export" which is under the "File" menu. Libre Office allows you to export a document (or a slide show, etc.) into pdf format.
If you use Google Docs (https://docs.google.com) which is a free online productivity suite, you can create your document online and then choose to download it into a number of different types of files, including pdf.
From doc to rtf or txt
If formating doesn't matter, you can save a file as "Rich Text Format" (.rtf) or Text (.txt) which can be read not only by any word processor but also by the notepad program that is included with the computer. This means that if you do not have a word processor on a computer, you can still access documents in rtf and txt. Rich Text Format will retain some formatting while Text format will retain words only.From unknown to txt
If you are presented with a word processing file in an unknown format (for example, a document that was created in Lotus ten years ago), you can frequently open it with your notepad program. You will see a lot of gobbledygook (LOTS of it), but keep scrolling down and you may see the actual text. You can copy the text into a word processor and then get rid of any embedded gobbledygook using "Find and Replace" (under the "Edit" menu). In order to do this, open the notepad and then go to the "File" menu and choose "Open" and then select your file.Another way to do this if the notepad doesn't work is to do a search on your document format (the dot and whatever letters are after it in the name of the file) as well as words such as "open" "convert", etc. You may find some resources this way. Bear in mind that many people probably have a similar problem, so there is a solution out there somewhere. Be persistent.